Sen. Maynard's family keeping his name on the ballot despite continuing injury problems

The family of severely injured state Sen. Andrew Maynard of Stonington issued a statement Tuesday saying they don't want to remove his name from the November ballot despite his suffering two "minor seizures" last week.

Maynard was injured in a fall from a staircase at his home 11 weeks ago, and still can't speak or make decisions about his future, according to his family. The statement by Maynard's family added that, "It is our genuine belief that, given the progress over the last two months, Andrew will be ready to serve when the [2015 General Assembly] begins [in January]."

The Maynard family statement comes just three weeks before voters are scheduled to go to the polls. The sprawling district in southeastern Connecticut includes all or portions of eight different towns. Maynard, 52, has represented the district since 2007.

The two seizures Maynard recently suffered were an apparent reaction to drugs given to him to "accelerate the recovery of speech functions," the family reported. "He was thoroughly evaluated after the incidents and we were advised there were no permanent effects."

A difficult position

"We find ourselves in the difficult and unenviable position of not only overseeing and making decisions regarding our brother's care, but also having to make decisions regarding his career," Maynard's family said in their statement. "We have tried to make these decisions with a single question in mind: What would he do were he able to make these decisions?"

Sen. Andrew Maynard is continuing to recover from major injuries suffered in a July 21 accident, and his family says he will be well enough to represent his legislative district, even though he is having difficulty speaking at present.

"Given all that we have learned to date, we have no reason...

Sen. Andrew Maynard is continuing to recover from major injuries suffered in a July 21 accident, and his family says he will be well enough to represent his legislative district, even though he is having difficulty speaking at present.

"Given all that we have learned to date, we have no reason...

The family said their approach "has been to do no harm as we work toward getting him back to a position of making decisions for himself, at the same time giving voters sufficient information to make their decisions in the absence of his ability to participate in the campaign process."

"Our hope is to let the voters decide if they want to give him another term, and at the same time give our brother the chance to decide whether or not he chooses to carry out his duties if elected," the family said in conclusion.

Maynard's Republican opponent in the 18th Senate District is Kevin G. Trejo of Groton, and he said Tuesday that Maynard's continuing health problems have made campaigning very awkward.

"I like Andy personally and I hope he gets better," said Trejo, a 64-year-old retired postal worker. "I can't attack him… If I were to say negative things about him at this point, I would shoot myself."

"I'm not going to start …"

"At one point early on, I was going to question him," Trejo added, saying that criticizing Maynard since his July 21st accident would simply make "more people… upset with me."

"I'm not going to start any campaign bashing of him," Trejo said. "I figure I'm better off just being quiet."

Maynard is currently a deputy Senate majority leader and co-chair of the General Assembly's Transportation Committee.

Senate Majority Leader Martin M. Looney, D-New Haven, said he feels it's reasonable under the circumstances for Maynard and his family to leave his name on the ballot despite his current condition.

"Clearly the issue is how things will pan out in January [when the 2015 General Assembly comes into session]," Looney said. "That's a more relevant point."

"It's my understanding he has made significant and dramatic progress," Looney said.